In a bold statement of solidarity and future concern, students at Whitman-Hanson Regional High School organized a walkout today to protest the laying off of numerous district staff amidst a $1.39 million budget crisis. As reported by Boston 25 News, the layoffs impacted 23 workers, including teachers, long-term substitutes, paraprofessionals, and non-union staff.
In the face of these cuts, three field hockey teammates have initiated a fundraiser, selling T-shirts with "1.39 M" on the front and "Where R our teachers?" on the back, aiming to bring visibility to the issue at the upcoming Wednesday’s school committee meeting. The shortfall was exposed by an external firm following the business manager's resignation, which left the district in a scramble for a replacement and thus exposed to the undercurrents of fiscal shortfall.
The superintendent, Jeff Szymaniak, has been upfront regarding his role in the oversight that led to these budgetary woes. "The responsibility ultimately lies with me. Looking back how we got here, it is clear that I didn't maintain a close enough watch over our payroll in fiscal year 25," Szymaniak openly admitted in a statement quoted by WCVB. The district retains a glimmer of hope that some positions may soon be restored, despite the grim current fiscal reality.
This show of student activism goes beyond the immediate loss of teachers and staff. Senior Ella Leach told WCVB, “We are not doing this for ourselves but for our future students.” The Whitman-Hanson Teachers Union has raised the stakes with a vote of no confidence in Superintendent Szymaniak, as both educators and students deal with the impact of budget-related cuts.
